Automated Tape Libraries and Virtual Tape Support › IBM 3494 Virtual Tape Server (VTS) › IBM VTS - CBRUXENT Volume Entry Exit › CA TLMS CTSSYNC Utility Support for the IBM 3494 VTS

CA TLMS CTSSYNC Utility Support for the IBM 3494 VTS

The CTSSYNC utility is used to communicate with OAM through LCS services for both the basic 3494 ATL and the 3494 VTS. It is the main interface module between CA TLMS and OAM. CTSSYNC is used to eject tapes or to perform import/export functions for a VTS. It can also be used to synchronize the TCDB with the VMF. The CTSSYNC utility is documented in this guide.

When using CTSSYNC to import or export tapes from the VTS two additional DD statements are required-EXPORT DD and IMPORT DD. These DD statements must point to a unit in the VTS. This is where the volsers that are to be imported or exported are retained for passing on to LCS. Only one IMPORT or EXPORT can be run at a time.

CTSSYNC may perform eject, export, import, or synchronize functions on either a range of volsers or a list of volsers. CA TLMS provides two CA Earl report members in CAI.CTAPEARL to create control statements that can be processed by CTSSYNC:

• TLERPT21-Creates export or eject control statements by inspecting the VMF after TLMSTRS has been run.
• TLERPT22-This report can be used to create import control statements for a container volume specified as input. The control statements are processed by CTSSYNC to import the virtual volumes back into the VTS.

In addition, a CA Earl report is provided to create CA TLMS control statements to use in maintaining the VTS container volumes:

• TLERPT23-This report lists the exported virtual volumes and the container volumes they reside on. Tapes are listed by creation date within container volume. The scratch status of each tape is shown. This report may be used to determine when the virtual and container tapes should be re-imported into the ATL. Generally, they should be imported when all the virtual volumes are scratched. The container volume is created as an EDM and will not be automatically scratched. This report can generate the 'UPV volser SCRATCH=YES' command for each container tape whose virtual volumes are in scratch status or have been previously imported. Once the container volume has been scratched you will need to manually insert the physical tape into the library as an eligible stacking volume. Information on how to do this can be found in the IBM manual, IBM 3494 VTS User Guide.

For more information about CA Earl reports, see the User Guide.